Muddy Trail Education

The Ken Caryl Ranch Open Space Department with direction from the Open Space Committee (OSC) and Board of Directors, has been performing select trail closures of Cougar and Bluebird Trails over the last seven years over winter months for muddy conditions. Part of this exercise was to protect the trail surface of the newly created Cougar/Bluebird Trails. The location of the trails allowed for a managed closure with a gate and alternative routes available to access the upper trails.

Over the years the trail closures were updated with additional closure posts, chains and signs. Park Rangers did not experience many users that ignored or crossed the closings. However, problems arose with this procedure. Some issues experienced were;

• Difficult two to three hour round trip hikes per ranger, to review trail conditions on all sections of the trail segments and to reach closures to lock chains.

• Challenging the ranger staff with this task, especially on weekends, puts a strain on department resources for patrol and snow removal on hard surface trails.

• While checking trail conditions, Rangers may need to hike on muddy trails or hike off trail and risk creating a social trail.

• Residents received mixed messages; as Cougar/Bluebird trails would be closed for days but use was encouraged on other trails in the early morning hours, as conditions were more stable versus in the afternoon.

• Residents would comment on the confusion of Cougar and Bluebird Trail closures when large sections appeared to be dry near access points, not taking into account the entire trail.

• Resident confusion as the rangers would only close Cougar/Bluebird trails and not monitor the entire trail system.

• Ranger performed continuous education on the KCR trail system as there are too many entrances/exits to properly close the system as other area agencies can do with parking lots and gates.

After reviewing these concerns with the Open Space Department and the Volunteer Trail Coordinators at the July OSC business meeting, it was decided that the use of the trails when muddy in sections is not as detrimental as one would think. Over a year, footprints and tire tracks will eventually smooth out and not create a large maintenance task for volunteers or contractors. Additionally, the trails have had many years now to fully pack down, harden and show the ability to recover from high use. The main concern is when trail users do not want to go through the mud and instead move to the side of the trail, causing the trail to widen and increase maintenance time and costs.

Considering the recent review, the muddy trail closures of Cougar and Bluebird Trails in the winter season will be suspended for 2024/2025. The ranger staff is planning on educating users by updating signs with QR codes and installing them at high use, potentially muddy trails areas, during the winter season. The plan will be to rotate signage and ask trail users to think twice about recreating when conditions are muddy. Please keep in mind that Ken Caryl Ranch relies on community volunteers to maintain the majority of the single-track trails and it is hard work. Please help our volunteers and the community by choosing to recreate responsibly. If you have any questions, please email me at matto@kcranch.org or call the rangers at 303.979.1876. Ext. 170

Ken-Caryl Ranch is proud to offer a variety of beautiful trails for our community to enjoy, but we need your help to keep them in good condition! Please follow these guidelines to protect our trails from damage:

• Avoid Muddy Trails: Ruts and hoofprints caused by hiking, biking, or horseback riding on wet trails can cause significant damage and require extensive repairs.
• Wait 48 Hours: After significant rainfall or snowmelt, give the trails at least 48 hours to dry out before using them.
• If You Leave Tracks, Turn Back: If you’re leaving tracks on the trail, it’s too wet. Please turn around and wait for better conditions. Horses, in particular, can cause substantial damage to wet trails.
• Winter Use: Trails tend to be more solid in the morning but get muddier in the afternoon. Plan your winter hikes for the morning when the trails are firmer.
• Stay on the Trail: If you encounter unexpected mud, go through it rather than stepping off the trail. Widening the trail can harm plants, contribute to erosion, and degrade the trail’s condition.
• Choose Trails Wisely: South-facing trails dry out more quickly than north-facing ones. Be mindful of this when selecting your route.
• Support Our Volunteers: The majority of our single-track trails are maintained by community volunteers. By recreating responsibly, you help reduce the workload on our dedicated volunteers and ensure our trails remain in great shape for everyone.

Thank you for helping to preserve Ken-Caryl Ranch’s trail system!